Devotionals for the Heart: Allow God to guard and protect your mind

Your Mind Matters
A devotional by Casey Wayne

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”—Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

I sat in my car feeling defeated.

Tears fell down my cheeks as the sound of my kids filled the car.

I questioned why God led me here. I felt overwhelmed and ill-equipped to handle the life I have.

Giving up in exhaustion seems inevitable as the demands of marriage, motherhood and other obligations tell me I am not enough. Pulling myself together, I trudge through my day as best I can. By dinner time I feel even more behind on everything. Somehow it feels like I have done nothing today when in reality I know that is not true.

In the end it feels abundantly clear, my best is not good enough. I become painfully aware of this as I try to decide what, if anything, I want to attempt to accomplish in the hour or so left in my day. Something in my brain keeps telling me to just give up. It all feels like a losing battle and what is the point of it all anyway. After all, what difference am I making?

In moments like this, darkness is drawing us in. Satan would love nothing more than to draw our thoughts away from God’s light. Our mind is such a critical component in our daily lives. It dictates our mood, our words and actions. The daily thoughts of our mind become the front lines of spiritual warfare as we walk out our faith. The people of Biblical times were no different. Paul describes the Gentiles as living “hopelessly confused” with their minds in darkness, closed off from God. (Ephesians 4:17-18). Lies are the devil’s specialty, convincing us that what we have learned about our God and His promises are not true. He loves to steal our peace and hope found in Jesus Christ. When we feel overwhelmed, lost, and afraid, Satan feels empowered to use that for his purposes. Those of us in Christ know that God has something better for us.

In Ephesians, Paul provides a description of what it looks like to live in response to our salvation. As we turn from sin and strive to be more like Christ, he gives us the way to avoid deception. Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT) says, “instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy”. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can transform our thoughts and keep them in line with what God has for us. Allowing God to transform our minds is an important part of offering our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). Jesus even makes it clear in the book of Matthew that we should always “love the Lord” with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37).

Consistently spending time in God’s Word and in prayer can help you fight this battle.

Reminding yourself of God’s faithfulness allows you to see the devil’s lies for what they are and takes away his power to wield them against you. Practice taking back those moments for God’s glory by resting in God’s promises when you discern that Satan is at work.

Pause and pray for God to give you strength and reminders of the hope you have in Christ.

As we build a relationship with our heavenly Father we develop an ability to keep a Gospel truth perspective. Your mind will be “renewed as you learn to know your Creator” (Colossians 3:10). 

Pray for God’s wisdom and discernment to see when the father of lies is attacking. Then you can take back your thoughts for the glory of God.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the gift we have in Jesus Christ. We appreciate the hope and grace we receive through Him. Please give me the wisdom to see the moments where Satan is attacking my thoughts and trying to use them for his purposes. Give me the strength and hope to take back those moments for your glory. So that, in turn, my words and actions can reflect Your light into this dark and broken world. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Look What You’ve Done” by Tasha Layton. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Casey Wayne is a wife and mother of two children.

She enjoys time with her family doing simple things like movie nights and cooking together.

As a devotional writer, Casey strives to share her story with relatable honesty, showing how God is faithful throughout the big and small moments of life.

She has a heart for encouraging the faith walk of other moms, praying they gain a deeper connection with our Heavenly Father.

Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.

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Connect with Casey:
Website: https://www.caseywayne.org/
Blog: https://peaceoffaith.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caseylwayne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peace.of.FaithCaseyWayne